Why don"t we, in the U.S., use windmills?

Question

Anyone, who lives on a hill, knows that wind can be a powerful force. The Dutch have harnessed this energy for many years. What are the drawbacks?

Answer 1

Windmills have had plenty of use in the USA. However, they were not the wooden things used in the Netherlands ( nor the rest of Europe.

As you hit the Great Plains, you will see plenty of turn-of-the century steel towers and wind vanes. These were usually powering water pumps for stock tanks. (cattle). Eventually, electrification eliminated the need for them, and what you now see left is non-working relics.

The power companies are investing in 'wind generators' on an introductory scale. (Although, if you go by, say, Altamont Pass in southern California, you';ll wonder about that 'introductory' phrase.)

The design of the things is a challenge. The towers have to be thin enough to minimize the disturbance of the winds, yet strong (thick) enough to withstand the loading of the propeller-like blades, from calm to high-wind conditions. The blades have to be 'feathered' to keep the rotation speeds at or nearly at a constant value. Finally, the object is to automate things, so manpower costs can be reduced.

The biggest drawbacks are the same as for the Dutch designs, but on a slightly different scale. Maintenance is the big one. Being able to shut down and brace for a storm is another.

wsulliva

Answer 2

Not cost effective.

It's cheaper to produce a KWH of electricty by burning coal or nat gas. Additionally, everybody loves the idea of wind power, but nobody wants one in their back year- including the most rabid alternative energy boosters like Ted Kennedy.

Personally, I would love to see a wind turbine on top of every new cell phone tower put up. The land has already been ruined and the extra cost would be small.

The Netherlands is putting a bunch of windmills in the ocean, but it is a very expensive proposition.

Answer 3

I think its one of the better technologies out there right now. They are especially beneficial on hills and ridges (like you said).

Its a renewable resource and doesnt have any emissions or waste to harm the environment. For power companies, it is a FREE fuel as it doesnt need to be purchased or transported, the only cost is the actual turbine itself. Farmers (in windy areas) can actually rent their land and get paid to have wind farms which would be another source of income, as they still can harvest crops at the same time.

Some of the drawbacks -
Speed is one of the main limitations of wind power in that the wind doesn't blow fast enough ALL of the time and since wind speed directly contributes to power output, you end up with unpredictable power levels.
Reliability of wind. If theres no wind, theres no power.
Storage of electricity from wind farms cannot be stored efficiently yet. So there may be interruptions in power.
Then theres the aesthetic beauty. I personally think theyre cool looking, but others say it takes away from the natural beauty of the landscape.
And there are wildlife activitists that believe too many birds will get killed by the turbines. I say - if we dont put a cap on this global warming problem, there wont be any birds to worry about because they'll all be EXTINCT! Also, I heard about a study that said electrical lines kill more birds than turbines.
Some people complain about the noise, but I believe its a constant hum that you forget about almost immediately.

Anyway, alot of people agree that its a great renewable resource, but it comes down to NIMBY (not in my back yard). They want these technologies but not everyone is willing to have it near them. But like I elluded to earlier, at the rate global warming is going, extinction may be another option if they want to bicker about where theyre going to put these farms. Extinction.... or... wind farm.... whats it gonna be? haha, seriously, Im sure its not that cut-n-dry, but its not far from reality.

Answer 4

Most people don't like the looks (just ask the people off the coast of Massachusetts and Maine who had a fit when there was talk about putting them off shore). I personally think they are a great way to produce energy, however, they do use up valuable land. I think they should be put off shore because the winds out there are terrific and would be major producers.

Answer 5

We did at one time because in the Northeast, particularly upstate New York, there used to be windmills. Incidentally that section of the country was settled mainly by the Dutch.

Answer 6

1. the unrealiblity of the wind
2 No one wants a giant wind mill in thier back yard

Answer 7

Drawbacks:
-Not yet "competitive" in terms of profits, with fossil fuels and nuclear...(though it is getting there....)
-Only produces power when the wind is blowing, not necessarily when you need it most.
-Large *initial* investment compared to other power sources
-Needs large tracts of land.
-Kills birds, bats, and insects...(larger, taller turbines are better in this regard.)
-Federal, state, and local regulations are a nightmare to work around.
-Some People consider wind turbines an eyesore. (I love them; I think coal plants and large transmission lines are much uglier....)

Answer 8

I saw fields of them in the western US.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_energy#Ecology_and_pollution